Saturday, December 31, 2011

Well, 2011 was so good to me I don't think "damn great" begins to cover it.

Looking back on 2011, I'm just stunned at the good fortune I've experienced in my writing career so far. This time last year, I was still months away from releasing my first book, hadn't yet launched my website, and had two books sold. Oh, what a difference a year makes. Here's what 2011 had in store for me:

I wrote approximately 220,000 words this year! That's a lot of #1k1hr on twitter! Actually, I discovered #1k1hr in 2011, so there's that, too! LOL

I received four new book covers this year.

I sold seven new books and two series - Hearts of the Anemoi to Entangled Publishing and Vampire Warrior Kings to Harlequin Nocturne.

I received my first ever "call" from an editor - from Nocturne's Tara Gavin.

My first novella, Hearts in Darkness, released in April.

My first novel, Forever Freed, released in May.

My second novella, Just Gotta Say, released in September.

My second novel, North of Need, released in November.

I wrote my first books on contract, as opposed to just whenever my brain happened to cooperate. Turns out it's a very different experience! Do you agree?

I organized my first-ever book blog tours. Now I've done four. Oy.

I received my first-ever book reviews. At first, it was scary as heck, just the action of clicking the button to open the website. Now, even though that flutter's still in my gut, it's not as scary, even when they're not as good as I'd wish!

I received my first reviews in Romantic Times (for Hearts in Darkness and North of Need)

My books won their first awards: NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011 to Forever Freed, and Sizzling Read of the Month for both Hearts in Darkness and North of Need.

I attended my second RWA National Conference and met Sherrilyn Kenyon, which was a wonderful moment.

I attended my first NJRW Put Your Heart in a Book Conference and loved it! Will definitely attend again! It was also at this conference that Stephanie Dray and I brainstormed a wonderful team project we're going to be co-authoring this year!

Friday, December 30, 2011

I'm so completely stunned! North of Need is up for two different sets of awards, both based on stellar 5-STAR reviews, and both of which require me to ask your help to win! Readers' choice awards mean so much though, because they come from you, the reader, and I love knowing something I've done has touched you in some way. I would be forever grateful if you would consider voting for me and North of Need in the following contests, both of which close 12/31:

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Hey guys! I've got a number of ways for you to win really cool stuff, and I didn't want you to miss anything! So here are all my open giveaways in one place! All end right around 12/31 or 1/1, so go get 'em! Good luck!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Welcome, Paige!Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

I grew up in a little town called Eight Four, PA, and moved to central Ohio where I live now with my husband and three daughters, 12 years ago. I’ve been writing since the birth of my first daughter who will turn 21 this year and I write mostly paranormal. Quite a few of my paranormal books are romances and even more are erotic romances. Those books, my erotic romances, are published under my penname, Alison Paige.

Great! Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

HELLSBANE is about a 23 year old young woman who just discovered she’s half angel (a nephilim). Now, her angelic father wants her dead and Heaven wants her to hunt fallen angels and their demon minions who’ve escaped the abyss and send them back. The problem is the fallen angels and demons won’t go quietly. So now Emma has to learn how to be Heaven’s kick butt bounty hunter before one of the bad guys hacks off her head. Of course, in the meantime, she’ll have to avoid accidentally seducing her angelic mentor, help an old friend conquer his own Fallen sperm donor, and basically save the world from a cataclysmic divine smack down.

Sounds awesome! Which character is your favorite and why?

Wow, its hard pick. I really love Emma and Eli both. Emma, because of her wit and her passion. She knows what she has to do and whether she likes it or not, she’s gonna do it. She sticks up for her friends no matter what and she has a good heart. But I love Eli too because he has such a capacity to love. He sees the best in people and will fight to the death for those he loves. He’s so wise and yet so naive, plus he’s sexy as hell.

Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?

Yes. Right now there are two more books planned for the series. HEAVEN AND HELLSBANE, and HELLSBANE HEREAFTER. There may be a few short stories in between there.

Those are great titles! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?

Sticking to my gut and letting what I knew had to happen, happen. As a writer you really grow attached to your characters and it’s not easy to let bad things happen to them. But without the bad things there’d be no story.

So true! What are you working on right now?

I’m still working on book two, HEAVEN AND HELLSBANE. It will be going to edits very soon and then I’ll move on to book three.

Good luck! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

After much rewriting it got published. It’d started out as a sweet romance, and ended up as erotic romantic suspense. Many, many stories between the first and second version of that book though, are still herding dust bunnies under my bed.

What an interesting evolution! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?

The easiest is coming up with the ideas and writing out the outline long hand. It’s one continuous flow of thought and it’s just so much fun. The hardest is actually making myself sit in the chair every day and write. Some days ya just don’t feel like it.

That is so true! Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?

I’ve incorporated aspects of real people into some of my characters. Usually secondary characters. It makes it easier to bring them to life if I think of them as someone I already know even though a lot about them is different than the real life version. I love to use real places in my stories though. It’s fun to go back to the parking lot where Emma got attacked by a shuffling demon, or sit in the restaurant where she had lunch with her mom and sister and think…this is where it happened.

Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?

Good and evil are two sides of the same coin and which side is which depends on who’s doing the looking.

Ooh, that’s cool! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

I’m very shy. People never realize that about me because I can force myself to behave as though I’m not. But inside, when I’m smiling and cracking jokes, I’m really shaking in my shoes, holding my breath and waiting for it to be over so I can go sit and a corner where no one will notice me.

I think that’s pretty common among writers. Writing is a very solitary, in your own head, kind of process. But after it’s finished it becomes a very, very public affair.The two sides of it are such polar opposites that it’s not unusual to find people at one end of the personality spectrum or the other.

I agree! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

I would have LOVED to have written the Vampire Chronicles. I think they are such a fantastic collection of characters and rich detail that makes me want to forsake real life and live forever in a book.

Love that! Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

I have a character named Thes, who stars in a couple books that have never gotten published. (with good reason). But I LOVE him. He’s smart, and handsome and tortured. He’s an angel and is forever on the outside looking in at what he wants and is full of questions no one wants to answer. He’s just an awesome character and I hope to show him to the world someday. Someday. *sigh*

Aw, sound awesome! Okay, now, just for fun!

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Milk Chocolate

Salty or sweet? Salty

Bed or kitchen table? Bed

Beach or mountains? Beach

Give or receive? Give

Emma Jane Hellsbane just found out she’s not human—or, at least, not only human. She’s half angel, too, and now Heaven’s got a job for her: round up all the Fallen angels and their red-skinned, horned devil-demon minions and boot their butts back into the abyss. Only problem? The demons and their Fallen masters fight back…and they don’t fight fair.

Luckily for Emma, she can put a stop to the constant threat of having her head hacked off if she figures out which Fallen angel is her father—and then kill him before he kills her. Of course, in the meantime, she’ll have to avoid accidentally seducing her angelic mentor, help an old friend conquer his own Fallen sperm donor, and basically save the world from a cataclysmic divine smack down.

No one said being Heaven’s bounty hunter would be easy. But with a name like Hellsbane, Emma Jane was born for the job.

Thanks for being coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?

Paige is giving away one ebook copy of Hellsbane! Comment with your email address to enter to win. Open to international. Winner to be picked by random.org. Open through midnight EST on 12/30! Good luck! And Happy New Year!

The Last Awakening released in December and is finding its place in the world. Ari and Grey are rather special to me now, I’ve spent so much time with them. In January, The Last Beginning will hit! Woot!

Awesome! I love a series! Which character is your favorite and why?

I think it’s Sadie and she’s in The Last Beginning. She’s a straight-forward character and I really love her fiery attitude.

Kick-ass females rule! Woot! As the author, what surprised you about this story?

The pain. I knew it would be a harder story to write. I wanted to dig deeper into Grey. He’s such a twisted soul, but dang, it can be hard to get back from that kind of despair.

That makes this book sound so intriguing! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?

The Last Beginning will wrap up the Curse of the Phoenix series. :)

So, what was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?

The re-writing and trying to get everything just perfect with the right amount of grief---that wouldn’t make the reader stay so blurry eyed they couldn’t finish.

That sounds challenging but awesome! What are you working on right now?

I’m starting on a top-secret project with two other authors. It’s going to be so much fun. Also, I’m plotting a Dystopian YA that has been bugging me all year.

Cool! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

It was published in March. JPiper’s Fury is my first full novel and after many-many rewrites it found a home. *much to my shock*

Congratulations! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?

Easiest to write: dialogue and action.

Hardest to write: emotion and description.

I always have to go back and layer in emotion myself! Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?

Not normally. My made-up characters are so much more fun, although, my daughter will tell you that she sees a bit of herself in each one of my heroines. So, maybe her.

That’s kinda awesome! Love it! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?

Wow, hmmm….each story has a different theme, but I always want to write a story that will light the soul. I want to touch the reader long after a story is over.

A great goal for an author! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

In person, I’m a complete recluse. Online, I kind of feel my groove, but in public---I’m like a plucked chicken. :)

LOL Another introvert, eh? Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

Oh, this is easy! It’s my fave book of 2011. Debra Anastasia writes contemporary romance and her book Poughkeepsie inspires me. I want to write a book like that. Something that will change people.

I know Debra and her story well! Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

Hands down, Piper Anast from Piper’s Fury. She is the most like me. An introvert with a mouth. Love her.

Love that description! Okay, then just for fun:

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate?Dark every day!

Salty or sweet?Salty!!! Love to make my mouth dehydrate.

Bed or kitchen table?Kitchen table---if it’ll hold.

Beach or mountains?Beach. I love the roar of the ocean.

Give or receive?Give…I’m horrible at receiving!

For three hundred years, Arabella’s life has been one meaningless death after another. In a cruel twist of fate, Osiris–god of the Underworld–gifts the phoenix her mortality and returns her voodoo magic. If she fails to harness her wayward magic and save a man worthy of a second chance, she’ll forfeit her power and her soul–forever.

Ex-soldier Greyson Meadows desperately wants to be freed from the nightmares and guilt that haunt him after the tragedy that brought him and Ari together. Confronted by the waif of a woman who forces him to face his worst fears, he resists, fighting the need to keep his personal demons hidden instead of setting them free.

When Ari becomes the target of her own magical blunder, it’s not just her life in danger, but now the one of the man she loves.

Thanks for being coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?

Rachel is giving away one ebook copy of The Last Awakening. Comment with your email address to enter to win. Contest open through midnight EST on 12/28. Open to international. Winner to be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

Thank you for having me today!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST, RACHEL!

And thanks to everyone for reading! Now leave Rachel some comment love!

Friday, December 23, 2011

What's better than snowmen to get you in the spirit of the season? They're cute, cheerful, fun to make and remind us of the carefree days of childhood. So, I put out a call for friends and readers to send me fun snowmen decorations of their own or that they saw in their travels. And y'all sent me some great pictures! So, enjoy these pictures of my and friends' snowmen and a moment of holiday cheer:

From Eria

From Dani

From Tamara

From Sharon

From Kellie

My Snowman Collection - These are about half of them!

My Favorite Snowman - my mom gave it to me probably 20 years ago and the cardinals always remind me of her. They were her favorite. To me, a cardinal in a snowy trees is one of the most beautiful sites of winter.

This snowman I have to share because it had me laughing so hard! Snowman humor, people!!!

And, see? My love for snowmen goes waaaay back! This is me at age 8.

And, this snowman I just love...from the back cover of North of Need. You know you have a great editor/cover artist/friend when she gives you the detail of your hero's mismatched eyes...

So, there you go! Some fun snowman cheer! I hope you have the most wonderful holiday, and I thank you for all your friendship and support in 2011.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

to the blog today! Joya is celebrating her **new release** with a giveaway--see down below!

Welcome, Joya!Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog today, Laura. I’m thrilled to be talking about a story that you helped me get published! I write romantic suspense, contemporary suspense, and paranormal suspense.

Aw, shucks! I loved reading this! Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

LOVE DELIVERED released just yesterday from The Wild Rose Press. It reflects my affection for small towns and the people who live there. Pete has strong ties to the community and the town and Bianca is chasing her dreams in New York City. Not just for herself, but on behalf of her mother, who never got the opportunity to follow her dreams. When Bianca returns to the small town where she grew up to fix up her deceased grandmother’s house for sale, she can’t help but be charmed by the town…and Pete, the mailman.

Sigh…Pete. *grins* Which character is your favorite and why?

LOL, I feel like a mother who can’t chose between her children. It feels wrong to pick one character over another, but I think Bianca would understand if I chose Pete. Because I fell in love with him. He’s the best part of a lot of men I know all wrapped into one.

Oh, I like how you put that! As the author, what surprised you about this story?

Honestly, nothing surprised me through the writing process. The characters told me their story early on. The biggest surprise for me was when the publisher decided to classify the story as “contemporary humor.” That cracked me up! Guess what? I’m funny. Well, Pete’s funny.

Pete is funny! *winks* What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?

Revisions. I can write a story in no time at all. Then I have to revise, revise, revise, and revise. And then usually revise again.

I hear ya, sister! What are you working on right now?

I’m writing a ghost story with a ghost who’s a practical joker and a matchmaker. Picture Betty White haunting an historic Baltimore apartment building.

Awesome description! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

It’s buried in a drawer and will never see the light of day. However, it was a great learning experience.

Yes, so agree! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?

Characters are easy to write. I’m lucky to have lots of colorful people in my life. Plots are hard, though. I usually don’t know how the story will progress. Often, I know the beginning and I kinda-sorta know the end, but I have no idea what will happen in between.

*nods in total understanding!* Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?

Definitely. The parade scene in LOVE DELIVERED is loosely based on our family July 4th celebration. A marching band plays in the yard before the parade every year and it’s the party of the year.

Such a cool small town moment! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?

For sure. I realized early on that every story I write carries the same message: bad things will happen in life, but if you find the right person, you will find happiness again.

Love that! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

I’ve completed three marathons. One of them in less than four hours! 3.59.51 to be exact.

Whoa! I did not know that! Go you! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

Easy. The TWILIGHT series. No maybe the HUNGER GAMES series. No wait…okay. So many great books and series, but these are two of my favorite because they are so emotional.

They’d both be at the top of my list, too… Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

Oh wow, this question makes me pause. I think the heroine in my WIP about a serial killer is my favorite so far. She’s had an awful, awful life, but finds hope and comes out fighting. She’s probably the strongest character I’ve ever written and I admire her strength. I wrote about her after seeing an interview on 20/20 about a young, spirited girl who survived an attack and had a better disposition about life than most people I know who haven’t experienced that kind of trauma.

Very cool! Can’t wait to learn more about her! Okay, then, just for fun:

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark

Salty or sweet? Salty

Bed or kitchen table? Sofa (LOL, couldn’t resist cheating)

Beach or mountains? Beach

Give or receive? Give

Bianca McClain has worked for years to achieve her dream job in New York City. After her grandmother passes away, she finds herself returning to the small town she grew up in to ready her house for sale. The slow, friendly pace of the town and its citizens, especially Pete the mailman, appeal to her—but there’s no way she’s giving up everything she’s accomplished in New York.

Born and raised in Centreville, MD, Pete Schaeffer loves his small town mail carrier job and can’t imagine leaving for any reason—or anyone—so he's dumbfounded by his intense attraction to Bianca, a woman with a fast-paced life in the big city.

Pete and Bianca soon find themselves lost in each other’s arms. When the summer ends, they will have big decisions to make. Will the small-town guy and big-city girl find common ground and lasting love, or will their differences drive them apart?

One commenter who leaves their email address will be entered to win an ebook of Love Delivered. Open to international. Winner to be chosen by random.org. Contest open through midnight EST on 12/25! What to comment? Tell Joya what YOU love about small towns!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST, JOYA!

Thanks so much for having me, Laura, and thanks for being my friend and critique partner! J

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Imagine this cover art as an 11"x17" poster! That's what you could win today by following my blog and commenting with your email address (+some fun swag)! (Open to U.S.) Contest open until 12/23 midnight EST!

I'm celebrating the 8-month book birthday of my contemporary romance, HEARTS IN DARKNESS!

Makenna James thinks her day can't get any worse, until she finds herself stuck in a pitch-black elevator with a complete stranger. Distracted by a phone call and juggling too much stuff, the pin-striped accountant caught only a glimpse of a dragon tattoo on his hand before the lights went out.

Caden Grayson is amused when a redhead literally falls at his feet. His amusement turns to panic when the power fails. Despite his piercings, tats, and vicious scar, he's terrified of the dark and confined spaces. Now, he's trapped in his own worst nightmare.

To fight fear, they must both reach out and open up. With no preconceived notions based on looks to hold them back, they discover just how much they have in common. In the warming darkness, attraction grows and sparks fly, but will they feel the same when the lights come back on?

Accolades for HEARTS IN DARKNESS:

76 Amazon Reviews!

Bestselling Contemporary Romance on Amazon!

885 Ratings and 200 reviews on Goodreads!

EPIC eBook Award Finalist for Best Novella! (winners TBA 3/12)

Fictionwise 6-Month Bestseller since June '11!

4+ dozen book blogger reviews, including RT Magazine and a new 5-STAR review yesterday by Book Savvy Babe!

Sizzling Read of the Month for May at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

Up for Sizzling Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

Have you given HEARTS IN DARKNESSa try yet? A great gift for yourself or a friend!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Happy Sunday everyone. I'm happy to share six from my contemporary fantasy romance, North of Need! Megan's just given Owen a Christmas present from a man who's been dead several millenia:

“Do you recognize it?” she asked, adrenaline in the form of pins and needles tingling over her body.

“No, well, I know the symbols. It says, ‘Without the death of winter, there is no rebirth of spring.’ It’s ancient.”

“Yes…Owen?”

He pulled his gaze from the amulet.

“It was your father’s.”

Aw! Love this sweet holiday moment between them. Hope it brings you cheer!

Please see the Other Sixers' Posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter! Also, at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews: North of Need won Sizzling Read of the Month for December, and so I'm offering a SnOHw Man Giveaway over there, AND the book is up for Sizzling Read of the Year, and your consideration for a vote would be much appreciated! Feel free to check both out via the above link! :)

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